hochstetler



(ModeL) I I O. E. HOOHSTETLER.

' ENVELOPE OPENER AND PAPER GUTTER. I N0.'298 .581. Patented May 13, 1884.

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C.- E. HOGHSTETLER.

ENVELOPE OPENER AND PAPER CUTTER.

No. 298,581. Patented May 13, 1884.

WITNESSES INVENTOR ATTORNEYS. v

Mrs mares ENVELOPE-OPENER AND PAPER-=CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of'Letters Patent No. 298,581, dated May 13,1884.

Application filed August .28, 1883. (Model) T0 64% whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. Hoorrsrnr- LER, of Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented a new and Improved EnvelopeOpener and Paper- Cutter, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved device of simple construction for opening envelopes and cutting paper.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a plan view of my improved envelope-opener and paper-cutter. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same on the line 00 as, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional elevation of the same on the line y Fig. 1. Fig. 4 shows the manner of using the instrument to open an envelope. Fig. 5 shows it used for cutting paper.

A blade or strip, A, of metal or ivory, hard rubber, bone, celluloid, 820., has a fork, B, formed at each end of the prongs B of the forks, having their top and bottom surfaces beveled toward the inner and outer edges, so that all the edges of the prongs will be cutting edges. The prongs are also slightly tapered toward the ends, and are provided with a slightly-rounded point. An aperture, 0, is

formed in the middle of the blade or strip A, and this aperture is surrounded on each surface of the strip by a raised ring, D, the inner edge of which is beveled, as shown, the ring thus forming two cavities or recesses for receiving the ball of the thumb while using the envelope-opener and paper-cutter. To open an envelope, one of the prongs B is passed under the flap and moved along the edge of the envelope, and cuts the same. Paper is cut in a similar manner, but the outer edges are used. The cutter is very small and handy, as it has four cutting-prongs. The hole 0 permits of hanging it on a hook, nail, &c., 5 when not in use; but the cutter is specially designed for carrying in the vest-pocket.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- A paper-cutter having a central aperture, 0, surrounded on the opposite sides by raised rings D, beveled inwardly to form a thumb or finger cavity on each side, and provided at both ends with a fork integral therewith and 5 5 sharpened to produce four cutting-edges at each end of the blade, as shown and described.

CHAS. E. HOOHSTETLER.

Vitnesses:

HENRY D. AsnLEY, OHAs. H. BLANOHARD. 

